'Sons of Anarchy's' final, bloody season begins on Tuesday, September 9th at 9 p.m.

'Sons of Anarchy's' final, bloody season begins on Tuesday, September 9th at 9 p.m.

Photo: FX

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FOX's new reality series 'Utopia' challenges a group of contestants to create a perfect society. The experiment begins with a sneak preview on Sunday, September 7th before moving to its regular time on Tuesday, September 9th at 7 p.m.. 'Utopia' will also air on Fridays at 7 p.m. less

FOX's new reality series 'Utopia' challenges a group of contestants to create a perfect society. The experiment begins with a sneak preview on Sunday, September 7th before moving to its regular time on ... more

Photo: CR: FOX

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Gordon Ramsey is back to yell at some donkehs in an all new season of 'Hell's Kitchen' premiering on FOX on Wednesday, September 10th at 7 p.m.

Gordon Ramsey is back to yell at some donkehs in an all new season of 'Hell's Kitchen' premiering on FOX on Wednesday, September 10th at 7 p.m.

Photo: FOX

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Cheer on Houston-born Zina Garrison, Olympic gold and bronze-medalist in tennis, as she competes to be 'The Biggest Loser' when it returns to NBC on Thursday, September 11th at 7 p.m.

Cheer on Houston-born Zina Garrison, Olympic gold and bronze-medalist in tennis, as she competes to be 'The Biggest Loser' when it returns to NBC on Thursday, September 11th at 7 p.m.

Photo: NBC / Trae Patton/NBC

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Thursday Night Football comes to CBS on Thursday, September 11th at 7 p.m. It will move to the NFL Network on October 30th.

Thursday Night Football comes to CBS on Thursday, September 11th at 7 p.m. It will move to the NFL Network on October 30th.

Photo: CBS

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Former dancer Julianna Hough moves up to the 'Dancing with the Stars' judges' table when the competitive dancing show returns for its 19th season at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15th on ABC.

Former dancer Julianna Hough moves up to the 'Dancing with the Stars' judges' table when the competitive dancing show returns for its 19th season at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15th on ABC.

'The Mindy Project' returns on Tuesday, September 16th at 8:30 p.m. on FOX.

'The Mindy Project' returns on Tuesday, September 16th at 8:30 p.m. on FOX.

Photo: FOX

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'Red Band Society,' FOX's new high school drama, doesn't take place in a school but rather in the pediatrics ward of a hospital. It debuts on Wednesday, September 17th at 8 p.m.

'Red Band Society,' FOX's new high school drama, doesn't take place in a school but rather in the pediatrics ward of a hospital. It debuts on Wednesday, September 17th at 8 p.m.

Photo: FOX

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Debra Messing stars in 'The Mysteries of Laura,' a new criminal drama about a woman trying to balance motherhood with her career as a homicide detective. It debuts on NBC on Wednesday, September 24th at 7 p.m. with a sneak preview on Wednesday, September 17th. less

Debra Messing stars in 'The Mysteries of Laura,' a new criminal drama about a woman trying to balance motherhood with her career as a homicide detective. It debuts on NBC on Wednesday, September 24th at 7 ... more

'Two and a Half Men's' final season begins on Thursday, October 30th at 8 p.m.

'Two and a Half Men's' final season begins on Thursday, October 30th at 8 p.m.

Photo: CBS

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New CBS sitcom, 'The McCarthys,' debuts on Thursday, October 30th at 8:30 p.m.

New CBS sitcom, 'The McCarthys,' debuts on Thursday, October 30th at 8:30 p.m.

Photo: CBS

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The Sherlock Holmes drama, 'Elementary,' returns to CBS on Thursday, October 30th at 9 p.m.

The Sherlock Holmes drama, 'Elementary,' returns to CBS on Thursday, October 30th at 9 p.m.

Photo: Jeffrey Neira / CBS

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Kids show their stuff on 'MasterChef Junior,' returning for a second season on Friday, November 7th at 7 p.m.

Kids show their stuff on 'MasterChef Junior,' returning for a second season on Friday, November 7th at 7 p.m.

Photo: FOX

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Fall 2014 Television: Tuesdays

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Time to clear out the DVR, stock up on snacks and toss that really comfy throw blanket into the wash: Fall TV is back! This season the networks are playing it safe and offering what they know people like: political dramas, romantic comedies, comic book heroes and yet another iteration of NCIS. Stick with what works, right?

Meet your new fall television season. New series are in italics, and the links lead to previews and more information about the shows. Also included below: what to expect from your favorite returning series, and premiere dates of cable shows. All dates and times are subject change, and more information will be added as it becomes available.

Tuesday’s new shows are all about romance and familiarity. Three new sitcoms will try to worm their way into our hearts with cutesy takes on the modern love story Tuesdays this fall. And as for the familiar, we are being offered yet another reality show that throws a bunch of wildly different people together to see what will happen; another comic book hero; and yet another NCIS. Yes, another one. And then there is the series about the 200-year-old immortal doctor, which when you get down to it, is basically another crime procedural with an overlay of romantic tension to keep it going. The same old same old.

Here at Tubular HQ, we will be blogging Supernatural and The Voice, paying half-attention to the results of Dancing with the Stars, watching New Girl, The Mindy Project, Marry Me and giving Utopia and Selfie a chance. Someone has to.

The early talk is that this sitcom, a My Fair Lady in the age of Twitter and Instagram, might be the first new fall series to be canceled. Considering it stars the very likable Karen Gillan (Doctor Who‘s Amy Pond) and John Cho (Harold from Harold and Kumar), I’m hoping that the series improves from the pilot — which is available on abc.go.com, and is not all that terrible, honestly.

This new romantic sitcom, on the other hand, which provides the internal monologues of a pair of twenty-somethings as their relationship develops, appears to be nothing but a bunch of lazy, sexist clichés slathered on top of a cheap rom-com movie from the 90s: Men can’t help but stare at boobs! Women love purses! Men sleep around! Women cry!

And then there is this series about a 200-year-old immortal medical examiner. Forever appears to be a little bit Bones, a little bit Sherlock, a little bit Castle, a little bit 200-year-old immortal medical examiner — in other words, it’s a run-of-the-mill criminal procedural with a dash of sexual tension that has been gussied up with a supernatural twist. That said, Ioan Guffard has a rakish charm, and the series seems to have the same easy-going sense of humor that has made Castle such a reliable performer for ABC.

With the success of Arrow, The CW has decided to take on an even bigger comic hero this fall, The Flash. It stars Glee’s Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, an awkward scientist with a tragic childhood who becomes a crime-fighting superhero. Yes, I know that describes almost all superheroes, but The Flash can run fast. No, like, really, really fast, so that’s … something.

From the supervillain who brought us Big Brother, The Voice and Fear Factor comes this new reality series in which 15 men and women are isolated and forced to create their own utopian society. There will, of course, be eliminations and a live stream of this year-long experiment. And possibly a live birth.

Casey Wilson’s new husband, David Caspe, is the man who gave us the hilarious sitcom Happy Endings. After that series was taken from us much too soon, he developed this new romantic sitcom, starring his new bride and the hilarious Ken Marino as an engaged couple whose marriage is postponed until they can straighten out their chaotic lives. If this series is half as whip-smart and funny as Happy Endings (and having Casey Wilson star in it is a great place to start), it should be a delight.

Sons of Anarchy:

It’s the final season, and since the series is loosely based on Hamlet, expect some characters to die. Scratch that: expect all the characters to die. (Exception: Horatio.)

Returning Shows:

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.:
Where we left off: Raina gave Skye’s photo to a mysterious man, explaining that she found his daughter; Coulson awakens in the middle of the night with the same mental capacities and fixations that destroyed Garrett.
Where we go from here: Kyle MacLachlan, Lucy Lawless, Adrianne Palicki and Brian Patrick Wade are all set to guest star in the second season.

N.C.I.S.:
Where we left off: Agent Gibbs learns of his father’s death.
Where we go from here: Tony will have a new love interest, dashing the hopes of “Tiva” fans — for now.

Person of Interest:
Where we left off: In an effort to hide from Samaritan, the team is forced to disperse and take on new identities.
Where we go from here: There will be a new police captain, and an increasingly dystopian society with the rise of Samaritan.

Supernatural:
Where we left off: DEMON DEAN.
Where we go from here: A “musical-ish” episode? A “musical-ish” episode.

Survivor:
Where we left off: Tony Viachos won Survivor: Cagayan.
Where we go from here: Survivor: San Juan del Sur: 18 players, 9 sets of contestants, each set has a pre-existing relationships, all battle it out in Nicaragua.

New Girl:
Where we left off: Nick and Jess work at being just friends; Schmidt tries to woo Cece back.
Where we go from here: Jess starts dating other guys, including one she competes with Jessica Biel for; Kaitlin Olson from It’s Always Sunny guest stars as Jess’s dad’s new love interest.

The Mindy Project:
Where we left off: Mindy and Danny finally accept they are meant for one another; reenact Sleepless in Seattle.
Where we go from here: Mindy and Danny work on their relationship; Rhea Pearlman joins the cast as Danny’s mother; Niecy Nash joins the cast as a tough doctor.

About a Boy:
Where we left off: Will moves to New York.
Where we go from here: Marcus’s group of friends gets a new leader; presumably Will returns.

Chicago Fire:
Where we left off: While fighting a huge fire, there is a catastrophic explosion and everyone — except Boden — is inside.
Where we go from here: Someone is going to die …